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Tracklisting
1. Introduction To Cardiology
2. Let The Music Play
3. Counting The Days
4. Silver Screen Romance
5. Like It's Her Birthday
6. Last Night
7. Sex On The Radio
8. Alive
9. Standing Ovation
10. Harlow's Song (Can't Dream Without You)
11. Fifth Chamber, The [interlude]
12. 1979
13. There She Goes
14. Right Where I Belong
15. Cardiology
Let your hearts beat violently again, dear punk lovers, as Good Charlotte have just released their long-awaited 5th album ‘Cardiology’ and all that one can say about it is that Good Charlotte are BACK!
Thank God there are no more soppy slash selfish pop rock songs and no more hip-hop experiments, although some of them were nice like, ‘Dance Floor Anthem’ and ‘Keep Your Hands off My Girl’ from ‘Good Morning Revival’ (bye bye Fergie and Timberlake). Of course, ‘Cardiology’ cannot beat ‘Young and Hopeless’ but it is a big step back to Good Charlotte’s post punk sound of 2002, back to their unaffected individuality that has taken them once to the music stratosphere and finally back to the powerful mood-boosting vibe of American stadium pop-rock.
Although the release was expected in January the band announced that they were going to completely scrap it and record with a different producer. Having started working with Howard Benson (producer of My Chemical Romance and The All-American Rejects) Good Charlotte didn’t feel right about the sound because Howard focused on making it a commercial success but the band always tended to sound non-commercial. Don Gilmore, who also produced the band’s first and fourth albums, took on the job and made ‘Cardiology’ a very “Good Charlotte” album with a light trace of Sum 41, Green Day and Blink-182.
The name of the album is explained by the band as being “connected to the heart”. All the songs are very personal especially ‘1979’, ‘There She Goes’, ‘Right Where I Belong’, ‘Cardiology’ – they follow right after the interlude and wrap up the album giving it a pleasant warmth of nostalgic feeling about the guys’ life in Maryland when no one knew them, when there was no economic recession and their parents were still together and in love. That’s why the closing part sounds way too cute, sweet and romantic.
And now coming to the best part of the album – the two singles ‘Counting the days’ and ‘Like it’s her birthday’. The choice of singles is quite comprehensible as these particular songs possess everything needed to be radio-friendly: extremely catchy, cheerful, dance-y and not too rock. The chorus part in ‘Like it’s her birthday’ is delicious, I should say, with these “oh oh oh ” and “ah ah ah”: it’s a great song for a party! Another party pop punk song is ‘Last Night’ which could be an anthem of one night-stand fanciers indeed but sounds incredibly fun and wild. ‘Standing ovation’ is a must for your mp3-players when you are on the move – it gives you an amazing feeling when walking and listening to it. Try it! ‘Sex on the radio’ has left me curious and puzzled about the story behind it: who was that famous girl they had a secret relationship with and who sounds like sex on the radio when he hears her singing?
Music-wise and attitude-wise the first part of ‘Cardiology’ is definitely post punk, of course, in its pop (light) version but still it preserves chaotic guitar riffs, wild drum sections and hysterical vocals. It rebels against the boredom and routine of everyday life, against aloofness, isolation and depression. It is full of life, love, humour, provocations and light and made with true passion for music.
So welcome back, our beloved Good Charlotte! Fall in our open embrace as we want to give a warm thank you hug for being yourselves again! We truly missed you, guys!
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